Flight leg termination visualization systems and methods for flight leg termination visualization

ABSTRACT

Various flight leg visualization techniques are enabled. For instance, a method comprises retrieving, by a flight management system from a navigation database, a route of an aircraft associated with the flight management system, determining, by the flight management system, leg terminations on the route, determining, by the flight management system, a leg termination of the leg terminations to display, and displaying, by the flight management system, the leg termination.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject disclosure generally relates to flight leg terminationvisualization and, more particularly, to systems andcomputer-implemented methods that can facilitate visualization ofaircraft, flight leg terminations, and flight plans.

BACKGROUND

A flight management system (FMS), also referred to as a flightmanagement computer (FMC), is integral to safe and efficient air travel.FMSs aid pilots and crew in adherence to a flight plan while combattingvarious intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as weather patterns, airtraffic, aircraft conditions, etc. Implementation of FMSs in aircrafttherefore improves situational awareness of the pilots and crew.

In the cockpit, pilots frequently interact with the FMS via a controldisplay unit (CDU). However, interaction with any device inherentlydiverts attention from other activities. For this reason, a significantamount of input is provided prior to takeoff. Still, some functions areused mid-flight. For instance, a FIX INFO function of an FMS is veryuseful for pilots by placing a fix on a navigation display (ND). Showingflight leg terminations on an ND is helpful for the pilot or crew tounderstand what an aircraft can or cannot do in accordance with a flightplan. This can be particularly helpful for “floating” legs andassociated terminations.

Some presently available FMSs have therein a FIX INFO function todisplay fixes on an ND. However, adding the fixes or terminations to adisplay is presently performed manually by a pilot or crewmember, whichcan be time consuming, tedious, and ultimately reduce situationalawareness. Therefore, there exists a need to improve flight legtermination visualization which has the effect of increasing situationalawareness.

The above-described background relating to FMS s and flight legtermination visualization is merely intended to provide a contextualoverview of some current issues and is not intended to be exhaustive.Other contextual information may become further apparent upon review ofthe following detailed description.

SUMMARY

The following presents a summary to provide a basic understanding of oneor more embodiments of the invention. This summary is not intended toidentify key or critical elements, or delineate any scope of theparticular embodiments or any scope of the claims. Its sole purpose isto present concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the moredetailed description that is presented later. In one or more embodimentsdescribed herein, devices, systems, computer-implemented methods,apparatus and/or computer program products that facilitate automaticflight leg visualization and/or modification are described.

According to one or more embodiments, a method is described herein. Themethod can comprise retrieving, by a flight management system from anavigation database, a route of an aircraft associated with the flightmanagement system, determining, by the flight management system, legterminations on the route, determining, by the flight management system,a leg termination of the leg terminations to display, and displaying, bythe flight management system, the leg termination.

According to one or more embodiments, a system is described herein. Thesystem can comprise a flight management computer, a processor, and amemory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by theprocessor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: receiving,from a flight navigation database, a flight plan for an aircraft,determining a leg combination along the flight plan, generating a visualof a termination associated with the leg combination, and displaying thevisual on a display communicatively coupled to the flight managementcomputer.

According to one or more embodiments, a non-transitory machine-readablemedium is described herein. The non-transitory machine-readable mediumcan comprise executable instructions that, when executed by a processorof a voice-activated device, facilitate performance of operations,comprising: determining whether a FIX INFO function of a flightmanagement system of an aircraft is enabled, and in response todetermining that the FIX INFO function is enabled: requesting a flightplan for the aircraft from a flight navigation database, in response torequesting the flight plan, receiving the flight plan from the flightnavigation database, determining a group of ARINC 424 type legcombinations occurring along the flight plan, determining a terminationof an ARINC 424 type leg combination of the ARINC 424 type legcombinations that satisfies a condition, and providing the terminationon a display device of the aircraft.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various non-limiting embodiments of the subject disclosure are describedwith reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numeralsrefer to like parts throughout unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting systems relating to flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting systems relating to flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting systems relating to flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 4 is a diagram depicting systems relating to flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting systems relating to flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 6 is a diagram depicting systems relating to flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting systems relating to flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example method for flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example method for flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example method for flight leg terminationvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an example, non-limiting system thatfacilitates flight leg termination visualization in accordance with oneor more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 12 is a block flow diagram for a method in which a route isretrieved, and a leg termination is ultimately displayed in accordancewith one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 13 is a block flow diagram for a method in which a flight plan isreceived, and a visual ultimately displayed in accordance with one ormore embodiments described herein.

FIG. 14 is a block flow diagram for a method in which a FIX INFOfunction state is determined, and a termination is ultimately providedin accordance with one or more embodiments described herein.

FIG. 15 is an example, non-limiting operating environment in which oneor more embodiments described herein can be facilitated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely illustrative and is notintended to limit embodiments and/or application or uses of embodiments.Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed orimplied information presented in the preceding Background or Summarysections, or in the Detailed Description section.

Embodiments described herein provide methods and systems that facilitateimproved situational awareness for flight crews and pilots. Variousembodiments herein can determine whether a FIX INFO function (e.g., anautomatic FIX INFO function) of an FMS is enabled. Corresponding methodsor system can request a flight plan from a flight navigation database.After the request, the flight plan can be received from the flightnavigation database. From the flight plan, a group of ARINC 424 type legcombinations (or non-ARINC 424 type leg combinations) occurring alongthe flight plan can be determined. A termination of an ARINC 424 typeleg combination of the ARINC 424 type leg combinations that satisfies acondition can be determined. The termination that satisfies thecondition can be provided to a display device of an aircraft or aground-based surveillance system. This can be particularly helpful whenan aircraft is maneuvering based on air traffic control (ATC) demand andtemporarily not flying to a planned trajectory (e.g., lateral guidance).

Display devices can display an aircraft and its path along with anintended leg termination, thus enabling a visual representation or acomputational representation of discrepancies between the aircraft pathand an intended path along a leg. Likewise, visual or computationalrepresentations of an aircraft traveling according to an intended pathalong a leg are also enabled.

Display of the leg termination or aircraft path can be provided on aheads-up display of the aircraft. Some embodiments comprisetwo-dimensional (2D) visualizations while other embodiments comprisethree-dimensional (3D) visualizations, or some combination of both.

Multiple leg combinations can exist on a flight plan or route, and anFMS can determine which leg combination termination to display. Adetermination of which leg termination to display can comprise adetermination of an upcoming leg termination on the flight plan. Someembodiments enable display of more than one leg combination termination.A criterion or criteria can be employed to determine which legtermination or terminations to display (e.g., which termination orterminations are appropriate to display). A criterion can comprise, forexample, a distance of a reference point from the aircraft. In thisregard, effective automatic enablement of a FIX INFO function can beachieved, without significant, or in some cases any, user (e.g., pilot,flight crew) input.

Visualizations or visuals displayed can represent leg terminations orleg combination terminations. Flight paths that intersect with an areaassociated with the leg termination can be considered acceptable orvalid solutions. Stated otherwise, aircraft headings that intersect anarea or region associated with a termination can be considered valid,and headings that miss the area or region can be considered invalid ornot acceptable. Such areas can comprise one or more of a variety ofshapes. For instance, 2D areas can comprise circles, rectangles, cones,or any other suitable 2D shape. 3D areas can comprise cylinders,spheres, cuboids, or any other suitable 3D shape. Shapes or sizes ofareas can be continuously updated by an FMS in response to changingfactors. Such factors can be intrinsic such as fuel remaining, orextrinsic such as a weather condition.

Machine learning can be employed to dynamically determine and update asize or shape of a region. According to an embodiment, this can occur inreal-time as conditions change. Conditions can comprise intrinsic orextrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors can comprise aircraft make, model,weight, fuel capacity, fuel level remaining, maintenance conditions,system faults, passenger load, cargo load, engine conditions, othersuitable information relating to an aircraft, or other relevantintrinsic factors. Extrinsic factors can comprise weather conditions orpatterns, air traffic, geographical conditions, or other relevantextrinsic factors. Augmented reality or virtual reality can be employedin the display or visualization of legs, leg terminations, the aircraft,other aircraft, or other elements suitable for display or visualization.This can occur on a heads-up display, on a window of the aircraft, as aprojection ahead or around the aircraft, or in/on another suitablesurface or area. For example, an ARINC 424 type leg combinationtermination can be superimposed on an exterior or an interior view withrespect to an aircraft or on an aircraft (e.g., using a heads-updisplay, augmented reality, virtual reality, or on/with another suitabledisplay apparatus).

A display device can comprise an eyewear device/apparatus, such asglasses, goggles, a headset, a screen (e.g., LCD, LED, OLED, AMOLED,e-ink, or another suitable screen technology), or another suitabledisplay device. Such eyewear, such as glasses, goggles, or headsets, canfacilitate the display of a leg termination in virtual or augmentedreality, though virtual or augmented reality visualizations can occur inother embodiments without eyewear devices or apparatuses.

Display devices can, in some embodiments, include a representation ofthe aircraft to provide context, and/or can show other aircraft within aspecified range or vicinity of the aircraft. According to an embodiment,recognition of other aircraft, such as those that are identified ordetermined to intersect a leg or flight path of the aircraft, can beemployed to prevent a collision between the aircraft and the otheraircraft. In this regard, an autopilot component can alter a course ofthe aircraft, or an alert can be conveyed to a pilot or crew regarding acollision risk. Such alerts can comprise flashing lights or messages ona display device, audible messages from an FMS, or other suitablenotifications.

The above aspects of the disclosure and/or other features of respectiveembodiments thereof are described in further detail with respect to therespective drawings below, wherein like referenced numerals are used torefer to like elements throughout. In the following description, forpurposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth inorder to provide a more thorough understanding of the one or moreembodiments. It is evident, however, in various cases, that the one ormore embodiments can be practiced without these specific details.

Turning now to FIG. 1, illustrated is a diagram of a cockpit 100 of anaircraft (e.g., an aircraft 202 or other like-aircraft which will belater discussed in greater detail). The cockpit 100 can comprise windows102, 104, 106, and/or 108. The cockpit 100 can additionally comprise NDs110 or 116, as well as CDUs 112 or 114. Windows 102-108 can comprisedisplay portions 118-124. In this regard, window 102 can comprisedisplay portion 118, window 104 can comprise display portion 120, window106 can comprise display portion 122, and window 108 can comprisedisplay portion 124. Further, the cockpit can comprise a heads-updisplay 126.

Display portions 118-124 can comprise sections of respective windows102-108, on which flight mapping information (e.g., a leg combinationtermination) can be displayed. Such flight mapping information cancomprise a leg, leg combination, leg combination termination, aircraftrepresentation/depiction, flight path, fight route, distance measuringequipment (DME) circle, very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR),a radial, a leg, a fix, an airport, a runway, a waypoint,non-directional beacon (NDB), other aircraft, or another elementsuitable for display on a display portion 118, 120, 122, or 124.According to an embodiment, a display portion 118-124 can comprise aportion of a respective window 102-108 on which a heads-up display unit126 can project flight mapping information. According to anotherembodiment, a display portion 118-124 can comprise a transparent displaypanel (e.g., a transparent OLED screen or other suitable transparentscreen), thus not requiring a projector to show flight mappinginformation.

According to yet another embodiment, the heads-up display unit 126 cancomprise its own projector and display panel on which flight mappinginformation is projected. In this regard, such a display panel can betransparent such that a view looking outside of the aircraft from withincan be maintained.

ND 110 or ND 116 can comprise an ND for use in a cockpit 100. In thisregard, ND 110 or 116 can be fixed or removably secured (e.g., a tabletdevice removably mounted) within the cockpit 100. Similarly, CDU 112 orCDU 114 can comprise a CDU for use with aircraft FMSs. For instance, CDU112 or 114 can comprise a FIX INFO function. According to an embodiment,CDU 112 or 114 can comprise an automated FIX INFO feature as taughtherein.

It can be appreciated that the visualization component 1108, which willbe later discussed in greater detail, can comprise any of windows102-108, display portions 118-124, ND 110 or 116, CDU 112 or 114,heads-up display unit 126, or other suitable display apparatuses such aseyewear devices/apparatuses or other display apparatuses not yetdiscussed or as would be understood by one skilled in the art, omittedfor sake of brevity.

In other embodiments, ND 110 or ND 116 (or visualization component 1108)can comprise a ND for use in a ground control station (GCS) (e.g., foruse with an unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAS orUAV)).

Turning now to FIG. 2, an exemplary display 200 is depicted. Display 200depicts an example of what can be displayed on a visualization component1108 or like component previously or later discussed. According to anembodiment, and as depicted in FIG. 2, the display 200 illustrates anARINC 424 VD or CD leg termination. It can be appreciated that othersuitable terminations as defined in ARINC 424 or another suitablestandard can be displayed. The display 200 can comprise an aircraft 202,aircraft 204, aircraft 206, and/or aircraft 208. Aircraft 202 cancomprise a solution 210, aircraft 204 can comprise a solution 212,aircraft 206 can comprise a solution 214, and aircraft 208 can comprisea solution 216.

Area 218 comprise a fix (e.g., a DME) in an associated flight plan. Itcan be appreciated that area 218 can alternatively comprise a VOR, NDB,airport, runway, waypoint, other aircraft, or other suitable referencepoint about which a fix, shape, region, or area can be generated. Inthis regard area 218 need not be fixed, meaning it can change positions.For instance, area 218 can comprise a ring around an “other aircraft”.The circle can surround the “other aircraft and can track the movementof the “other aircraft”. The pilot/crew of aircraft 208 can use thischange in movement of the circle to follow the “other aircraft”.According to an example, the circle (e.g., area 218) can insteadcomprise a semicircle instead of a full circle, or an entirely differentsuch as an arc, semicircle, rectangle, square, or another suitable 2D or3D shape.

Any of aircraft 202-208 can comprise the cockpit 100, and the depictionof aircraft 202-208 on the display 200 can represent a past, present, orfuture position of a single aircraft (e.g., at different points intime). Solutions that intersect the area 218 (e.g., solution 212 andsolution 214) are considered valid. Solutions that miss the area 218(e.g., solution 210 and solution 216) are considered invalid, not valid,or not acceptable. Compass 220 is herein depicted for exemplarypurposes, however, some embodiments described herein can implement acompass 220 or a different a suitable dynamic directional aid on thedisplay 200.

According to another embodiment, an aircraft being flown can compriseany combination of the aircraft 202-208. In other words, aircraft 202can comprise an aircraft being flown, while aircraft 204-208 cancomprise an “other aircraft” within the vicinity of the aircraft 202being flown. In this regard, a pilot or crew can observe “otheraircraft” that may, for example, be on their own trajectory for the samearea 218. This way, a potential for collisions can be reduced bypresenting alerts to a pilot or crew via an FMS, by causing an autopilotto alter course, or by another suitable collision mitigation method orsystem.

According to another embodiment, aircraft 202-208 can represent the sameaircraft at different points in time. For instance, a single aircraftcan be represented by aircraft 202-208. As an example, depicted herein,the aircraft can be flying due north and be awaiting a 90° turn easttoward area 218, or awaiting a turn toward on specific radial towardarea 218. Aircraft 208 can represent a position of the aircraft in thepast, where making the 90° turn would have occurred too early andresulted in an invalid solution. Visualizing a turn that would be tooearly can help prevent a pilot or crew from making such an error.Aircraft 206 can represent the aircraft in present time, whereimmediately making a 90° turn would result in a valid solution. Aircraft204 can represent the aircraft in a future time, where making a 90°would still result in a valid solution. Aircraft 202 can represent theaircraft in a future time, later than the time represented by aircraft204. By the time the aircraft reaches a position represented by aircraft202, it would be too late for the aircraft to make an acceptable 90°turn to intersect area 218. This information can be particularly helpfulfor a pilot crew, in that the pilot or crew can visualize where thepilot/crew was supposed to turn, and where an aircraft is geographicallylocated in present time. It should be appreciated that the display 200need not display multiple aircraft 202-208 at once, and that someembodiments only display one aircraft from the group of aircraft202-208. In this regard, an aircraft (e.g., aircraft 206) can bedisplayed at a current position in current time. This position candynamically change with actual movement of the aircraft 206.

According to some embodiments, an FMS (e.g., FMS 1102) can utilizemachine learning to dynamically update the number of solutions atvarying positions and points in time on the display 200. In this regard,FMS 1102 using machine learning may determine that depicting foursolutions (e.g., 210, 212, 214, and 216) would be optimal. It can beadditionally appreciated that the number of solutions depicted can bebased on pilot/crew preferences. Further, an FMS can utilize machinelearning to determine preferences of specific pilots or crew members andcreate electronic profiles for such pilots or crew members so thatconfigurations presented are useful to the pilots/crew. Limiting thenumber of solutions can be particularly helpful for decluttering adisplay (e.g., display 200).

Additionally, the circle comprising area 218 can dynamically changeshape or size depending on a singularity or plurality of intrinsic orextrinsic variables. Providing this circle (or other shape) aids invisualizing the target of a leg. In various cases, the invention canleverage machine learning pattern recognition, trained via supervisedlearning, to compare current and baseline flight mapping information andto analyze such intrinsic or extrinsic variables. Based on suchcomparisons and analyses, an appropriate shape and size for theacceptable region (also referred to as zone or area) of which acceptablesolutions intersect, can be determined. In various embodiments, an FMS(e.g., FMS 1102) as aided by a machine learning component (e.g., machinelearning component 1112) can make recommendations for when to make aheading change based on the validity or invalidity of possible solutionsand/or other intrinsic or extrinsic variables/factors.

It can be appreciated that while the circle (or other suitable shape)about area 218 is herein depicted with a solid line, other line typescan be utilized, such as a dashed line or another suitable line type.Likewise, while the solutions 210-216 are herein depicted with solidlines, other line types can be utilized, such as dashed lines or othersuitable line types.

According to an embodiment, the display 200 can be aircraft centric. Inthis regard, an aircraft (e.g., aircraft 206) remains in a relativelystationary position on the display 200 (e.g., centered) and thegeography moves and rotates with respect to movement of the aircraft206. Other embodiments can be geography centric. In this regard, thegeography (e.g., area 218) remains fixed and an aircraft (e.g., aircraft206) moves/rotates on the display in association with actual movement ofthe physical aircraft represented by the aircraft 206 on the display200. In this regard, the aircraft 206 can move and rotate and an area(e.g., area 218) remains fixed in place on the display 200. Otherdisplays described herein (e.g., display 300, display 400, display 500,display 600, display 700) can similarly be aircraft centric or geographycentric. An FMS comprising such a display can comprise dual capability,and can therefore be toggled between view-types or can automaticallydetermine an appropriate display mode using machine learning. It can beappreciated that additional view types can be implemented or utilized inembodiments herein, and the invention herein is not limited to twodisplay modes.

Now with reference to FIG. 3, an exemplary display 300 is depicted.Display 300 depicts an example of what can be displayed on avisualization component 1108 or a like-component previously or laterdiscussed. According to an embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 3, thedisplay 300 illustrates an ARINC 424 VD or CD leg termination. It can beappreciated that other suitable terminations as defined in ARINC 424 oranother suitable standard can be displayed. According to an embodiment,and as depicted herein, display 300 does not depict and aircraft (e.g.,like aircraft 202), however alternate embodiments an include aircraftdepictions similar to those depicted and discussed regarding FIG. 2. Aswith display 200, the display 300 can comprise an aircraft centric view,a geography centric view, or a different suitable view.

According to an embodiment, display 300 includes a DME 302, a flightpath 304. waypoint 306, waypoint 308, and directional guides 310 and/or312. DME 302 can be similar to area 218, and the range ring surroundingDME 302 can be similar to the circle comprising area 218. The range ringabout DME 302 can comprise a solid line, dashed line, or anothersuitable line type. Additionally, the range ring about DME 302 can be aset color (e.g., yellow). The color can be predefined, according to apreference, set using machine learning to determine to an optimal colorbased on a singularity or plurality of conditions (e.g., time of day,light conditions, colorblindness of pilot or crew, or other suitableconditions). A color (e.g., magenta) of the flight path 304 can likewisebe predefined, according to a preference, set using machine learning todetermine to an optimal color based on a singularity or plurality ofconditions (e.g., time of day, light conditions, colorblindness of pilotor crew, or other suitable conditions). An outline or fill of DME 302can change color in response to a solution being on track to be valid orinvalid. For example, an outline or fill of DME 302 can be green when anaircraft is within the DME 302 circle or on target to be within it. Anoutline or fill of the DME 302 can be yellow when an aircraft is at riskof engaging in an invalid solution (e.g., close to leaving the circle).An outline or fill of DME 302 can be red when an aircraft is presentlyon an invalid solution. This can occur when an aircraft is outside theDME 302. According to an example, the color can change from red toyellow (or green) when an aircraft is closer to switching from aninvalid to valid solution (e.g., aircraft changes heading from missingDME 302 to being pointed toward DME 302).

Waypoint 306 can represent a termination of a CD leg. According to anexample, similar conditions can occur for VI-AF or CI-AF legcombinations (where the termination is defined as a semi-circular targetinstead of a full circle/range ring). In this regard, aheading-to-intercept arc-to-fix can be represented with a semicircle.The ideal boundaries of the semi-circular target or range ring can beclearly and automatically displayed to the flight crew or pilot.

Directional guides 310 or 312 can be optionally included on the display300. Directional guides 310 or 312 can be enabled when the direction ortravel is not immediately clear. According to an example, an FMS canutilize machine learning or artificial intelligence to determine whetherthe directional guides 310 or 312 are needed.

Turning now to FIG. 4, an exemplary display 400 is depicted. Display 400depicts an example of what can be displayed on a visualization component1108 or a like-component previously or later discussed. According to anembodiment, as depicted in FIG. 4, the display 400 illustrates an ARINC424 FA leg. It can be appreciated that other suitable terminations asdefined in ARINC 424 or another suitable standard can be displayed.According to an embodiment, and as depicted herein, display 400 does notdepict and aircraft (e.g., an aircraft like aircraft 202), howeveralternate embodiments an include aircraft depictions similar to thosedepicted and discussed regarding FIG. 2.

Flight path 402 can comprise a flight path according to a flight planfor an aircraft which can be provided on a display 400. An FMS cangenerate on a display 400 a reference fix 408 and a reference radial406. An FMS can further determine a point 404, which can comprise anFMS-computed point for the altitude corresponding to the FA leg. In thisregard, an aircraft is flying from a fix to an altitude. By illustratingthe reference fix 408, reference radial 406, and/or point 404, a pilotor crew has greater visibility and insight into how far along areference radial an aircraft should fly before changing direction.

With reference to FIG. 5, an exemplary display 500 is depicted. Display500 depicts an example of what can be displayed on a visualizationcomponent 1108 or a like-component previously or later discussed.According to an embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 5, the display 500illustrates an ARINC 424 CF termination (e.g., of a VI-CF leg or a CI-CFleg), which can aid a pilot or crew where they should have terminated ina missed intersection (e.g., an invalid solution/case). Aircraft 502 onpath 504 represents an invalid case. Aircraft 506 on path 508 representsa valid case. It can be appreciated that, while aircraft 502 and 506 areboth depicted on display 500 at the same time, this is herein forpurposes of illustration and the display 500 can alternatively displayonly one aircraft (e.g., aircraft comprising cockpit 100 in real timeand in space). As depicted, aircraft 502 misses termination CF inboundcourse 514 to the CF termination fix 510. Aircraft 506 on path 508,representing a valid solution, adequately intercepts at intercept 512for the CF termination fix 510. It can be appreciated that arrow 516shows an intended direction of travel, and can be optionally included inimages generated on the display 500 (e.g., using machine learning todetermine whether the arrow 516 should be included). According to otherembodiments, arrow 516 is not included.

Turning now to FIG. 6, there is illustrated an exemplary display 600.Display 600 depicts an example of what can be displayed on avisualization component 1108 or a like-component previously or laterdiscussed. According to an embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 6, thedisplay 600 illustrates an ARINC 424 VD or CD termination. FIG. 6represents a 3D depiction that can be provided on a display 600.Aircraft 602 can be similar to other aircraft described herein. Forexample, aircraft 602 can comprise a cockpit 100. Path 604 can representa trajectory of the aircraft 602 based upon its current heading ordirection of travel. Cylinder 606 can comprise a DME. Cylinder 606 canalternatively comprise a VOR, NDB, airport, runway, waypoint, otheraircraft, or other suitable reference point about which a fix, shape,region, or area can be generated. Cylinder 606 can extend upward from aground surface. In this regard, the aircraft 602 intersect cylinder 606at a plurality of altitudes that represent valid solutions. The cylinder606 can be infinity tall, however, according to an embodiment, placementof the cylinder in space, and dimensions of the cylinder, can bedetermined based upon safe or possible solutions that can be achieved bythe aircraft 602. In this regard, a maximum safe altitude represented bya maximum height of the cylinder 606, and a minimum safe altitude can berepresented by a minimum height of the cylinder 606. Such safe altitudescan be determined from, for instance, flight data 1126 (later discussedin greater detail). A reference coordinate system 608 can be optionallyincluded.

Turning now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated an exemplary display 700.Display 700 depicts an example of what can be displayed on avisualization component 1108 or a like-component previously or laterdiscussed. According to an embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 7, thedisplay 700 illustrates a final approach (e.g., to a runway, a localizerlanding system, or FMS landing system). The region 704 can representdesired capture region. In this regard, an aircraft should be within theregion 704 during final approach to the runway 702. This can have theintended effect of stabilizing a final approach. As depicted herein,aircraft 708 on trajectory 706 is within the region 704 and is ontarget. In this regard, aircraft 708 represents a valid case. An outlineor fill of the region 704 can change color in response to a solutionbeing on track to be valid or invalid. For example, an outline or fillof a region (e.g., region 704) can be green when an aircraft (e.g.,aircraft 708) is within the region 704 or on target to be within theregion 704. An outline or fill of a region 704 can be yellow when anaircraft (e.g., aircraft 708) is at risk of engaging in an invalidsolution (e.g., close to an edge of a region or on a heading to exit aregion). An outline or fill of a region can be red when an aircraft ispresently engaging in an invalid solution. This can occur when anaircraft is outside the region (e.g., region 704). According to anexample, the color can change from red to yellow when an aircraft iscloser to switching from an invalid to valid solution (e.g., aircraftchanges heading from missing the region to being pointed toward region).

Such color coordination can be implemented in other embodiments forother regions or areas, such as area 218, DME 302, or cylinder 606.Similar color coordination can be utilized for radials (e.g., radial406, inbound course 514). In this regard, color can similarly change inresponse to an aircraft being on target to reach a radial, or otherline, with a valid case or invalid case (e.g., green for on target forvalid solution, yellow for at risk, red for on target for invalidsolution).

With reference to FIG. 8, there is illustrated a flowchart of a process800 for displaying leg terminations. At 802, a route can be loaded(e.g., from a flight navigation database). Such a navigation databasecan be downloaded to an FMS and stored within FMS memory. According toan example, the navigation database can be regularly updated (e.g., onceper month), in order to keep the navigation database up to date. At 804,terminations along the route can be determined. In this regard, an FMScan evaluate a route and determine the various legs along the route.From the various legs, corresponding leg terminations can be determined.At 806, from the terminations determined to be on the route, theappropriate termination(s) to display can be determined. Terminationscan be determined to be appropriate or not appropriate based upon acriterion or criteria, such as distance (e.g., within a thresholddistance) between aircraft and termination, whether the terminationcomprises a GOTO termination, the number of terminations ahead,determined using machine learning, or with another suitable criteriadiscussed herein or as would be suitable. It can be appreciated thatmultiple terminations can be evaluated to determine whether zero, asingularity, or a plurality of leg terminations satisfy a criterion(e.g., distance between a termination and aircraft less than a thresholddistance). At 808, the appropriate termination(s) to display can bedisplayed (e.g., on a visualization component 1108).

Turning now to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a flowchart of a process 900for displaying leg terminations. At 902, at determination can be maderegarding whether leg termination display is enabled. This can comprisedetermining whether an automated FIX INFO function is enabled, which canbe enabled by default or can be disabled by default. At 904, if enabled,the process proceeds to 906. If at 904, leg termination display is notenabled, the process returns to 902. At 906, a route can be loaded(e.g., from a flight navigation database). At 908, terminations alongthe route can be determined. At 910, if terminations along the routeexist, the process can proceed to 912. If terminations do not exist onthe route, or are otherwise unavailable, the process can return to 902.At 912, termination(s) to display can be displayed. The terminations cancomprise terminations that are appropriate to display. Criteria forappropriateness can be similar to those discussed above regarding step806. At 914, if a system is to continue to display terminations, theprocess can proceed to 916. If at 914, a system is not to continue todisplay terminations (e.g., last termination already displayed, lasttermination for a segment of a route displayed, user disabled, or forsome other suitable reason to not display terminations), the process canreturn to 902. At 916, appropriate terminations can be displayed (e.g.,on a visualization component 1108).

With reference to FIG. 10, there is illustrated a flowchart of a process1000 for displaying leg terminations. At 1002, at determination can bemade regarding whether leg termination display is enabled. At 1004, ifenabled, the process proceeds to 1006. If at 1004, leg terminationdisplay is not enabled, the process returns to 1002. At 1006, a routecan be loaded (e.g., from a flight navigation database). At 1008,terminations along the route can be determined. At 1010, if terminationsalong the route exist, the process can proceed to 1012. If terminationsdo not exist or are unavailable, the process can return to 1002. At1012, from the terminations determined to be on the route, theappropriate termination(s) to display can be determined. Criteria forappropriateness can be similar to those discussed above regarding step806 or 912. At 1014, the appropriate termination(s) to display can bedisplayed (e.g., on a visualization component 1108). At 1016,geographical movement of an aircraft can be determined. This can occur,for example, while an aircraft is traveling along a route. When movementoccurs, an aircraft can proceed through one leg and move on to the nextone. When this occurs, a different leg can be displayed, therebyenabling relevant information to be continued to be displayed at alltimes. At 1018, if the termination(s) displayed should not change (e.g.,the next/upcoming termination has not changed or no new terminations arewithin a defined range of the aircraft), the process returns to 1014. At1018, if the termination(s) displayed should change (e.g., aircraftpasses a termination or an upcoming termination becomes within a definedrange of the aircraft), the process proceeds to 1020. At 1020, thedifferent (appropriate) termination(s) are displayed. At 1022, if theprocess is not to end (e.g., system still enabled, route not over, ormore upcoming leg terminations), the process returns to 1002. If at1022, the process is to end (e.g., aircraft landed), then the processends.

Turning now to FIG. 11, there is illustrated an example, non-limitingsystem 1100 that can facilitate leg termination display in accordancewith one or more embodiments described herein. As shown, flightmanagement system (FMS) 1102 an access various flight data 1126. Flightdata 1126 can comprise, but is not limited to, route information 1128,position information 1130, and/or aircraft information 1132. Routeinformation 1128 can additionally/alternatively comprise a route from aflight navigation database. Route information 1128 can comprise legsoccurring on a route, weather information, air traffic information, orother suitable route information. Position information 1130 can compriseinformation relating to an aircraft's position. For instance, theposition information 1130 can comprise altitude, heading, latitude,longitude, roll, pitch, yaw, or other suitable positional information.The position information 1130 can additionally/alternatively compriseinformation relating to other aircraft in a vicinity or within a rangeof the aircraft comprising the flight management system 1102. Aircraftinformation 1132 can comprise information concerning an aircraftcomprising the FMS 1102. Such information can comprise aircraft make,model, weight, fuel capacity, fuel level remaining, maintenanceconditions, system faults, passenger load, cargo load, engineconditions, or other suitable information relating to an aircraftcomprising an FMS 1102.

FMS 1102 can comprise a processor 1104 (e.g., computer processing unit,microprocessor, and so on) and a computer readable memory 1106 that isoperably and/or operatively and/or communicatively connected/coupled tothe processor 1104. The memory 1106 can store computer-executableinstructions which, upon execution by the processor 1104, can cause theprocessor 1104 and/or other components of the FMS 1102 (e.g.,visualization component 1108, and so on) to perform one or more acts. Invarious embodiments, the memory 1106 can store computer-executablecomponents (e.g., visual generation component 1118, criterionsatisfaction component 1116, and so on), and the processor 1104 canexecute the computer-executable components. It can be appreciated thatthe FMS 1102 can be communicatively coupled to the visualizationcomponent 1108.

FMS 1102 can comprise a collision avoidance component 1110. Thecollision avoidance component 1110 can utilize flight data 1126 or othersuitable information to prevent a collision with a building, ground,object, or another aircraft or vehicle. The collision avoidancecomponent 1110 can additionally generate a notification (e.g., on avisualization component 1108) if a current, future, or possibletrajectory poses a risk of resulting in a collision.

FMS 1102 can comprise a machine learning component 1112. In variousembodiments, a machine learning algorithm can be used to facilitate legtermination visualization or other FMS functions, such as modifying ashape or size of a region, change the number of solutions displayed on adisplay (e.g., visualization component 1108), learn pilot or crewpreferences for FMS systems or other cockpit 100 configurable items,making a recommendation for when to make a heading change based on thevalidity or invalidity of possible solutions and/or other intrinsic orextrinsic variables/factors, determining an appropriate view type,determining appropriate colors for regions, aircrafts, outlines, orother elements depicted on a visualization component 1108, determiningwhether to include directional arrows, or other elements suitable forimprovement via machined learning. In various cases, the machinelearning algorithm can be trained (e.g., via supervised learning,unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, and so on) to recognizewhich termination to display, a level of zoom to apply, a recommendationfor valid solutions for satisfying a leg on a flight plan, or othersuitable functions aided by machine learning.

In various embodiments, a trained machine learning and/or patternrecognition algorithm can include any suitable mathematical,statistical, and/or computational classification technique. Forinstance, in various embodiments, a trained machine learning and/orpattern recognition algorithm can include any suitable mathematical,statistical, and/or computational technique that can be trained (e.g.,via supervised learning on known data sets) to classify an input dataset into one or more output classifications (e.g., to detect patternsand/or signatures in an input data set and to correlate the detectedpatterns and/or signatures to one or more states of the input data set).In various embodiments, a trained machine learning and/or patternrecognition algorithm can comprise one or more linear classifiers (e.g.,generative classifiers such as Naïve Bayes, linear discriminantanalysis, and so on; discriminative classifiers such as logisticregression, perceptron, support vector machines, and so on; linearaffine transformations optimized to achieve global minima; and so on).In various embodiments, a trained machine learning and/or patternrecognition algorithm can comprise one or more non-linear classifiers(e.g., artificial neural networks, non-linear and/or high dimensionalsupport vector machines, and so on).

To facilitate the above-described machine learning aspects of variousembodiments of the subject claimed innovation, consider the followingdiscussion of artificial intelligence. Various embodiments of thepresent innovation herein can employ artificial intelligence (AI) tofacilitate automating one or more features of the present innovation.The components can employ various AI-based schemes for carrying outvarious embodiments/examples disclosed herein. In order to provide foror aid in the numerous determinations (e.g., determine, ascertain,infer, calculate, predict, prognose, estimate, derive, forecast, detect,compute, and so on) of the present innovation, components of the presentinnovation can examine the entirety or a subset of the data to which itis granted access and can provide for reasoning about or determinestates of the system, environment, and so on from a set of observationsas captured via events and/or data. Determinations can be employed toidentify a specific context or action, or can generate a probabilitydistribution over states, for example. The determinations can beprobabilistic; that is, the computation of a probability distributionover states of interest based on a consideration of data and events.Determinations can also refer to techniques employed for composinghigher-level events from a set of events and/or data.

Such determinations can result in the construction of new events oractions from a set of observed events and/or stored event data, whetheror not the events are correlated in close temporal proximity, andwhether the events and data come from one or several event and datasources. Components disclosed herein can employ various classification(explicitly trained (e.g., via training data) as well as implicitlytrained (e.g., via observing behavior, preferences, historicalinformation, receiving extrinsic information, and so on)) schemes and/orsystems (e.g., support vector machines, neural networks, expert systems,Bayesian belief networks, fuzzy logic, data fusion engines, and so on)in connection with performing automatic and/or determined action inconnection with the claimed subject matter. Thus, classification schemesand/or systems can be used to automatically learn and perform a numberof functions, actions, and/or determinations.

A classifier can map an input attribute vector, z=(z1, z2, z3, z4, zn),to a confidence that the input belongs to a class, as byf(z)=confidence(class). Such classification can employ a probabilisticand/or statistical-based analysis (e.g., factoring into the analysisutilities and costs) to determinate an action to be automaticallyperformed. A support vector machine (SVM) can be an example of aclassifier that can be employed. The SVM operates by finding ahyper-surface in the space of possible inputs, where the hyper-surfaceattempts to split the triggering criteria from the non-triggeringevents. Intuitively, this makes the classification correct for testingdata that is near, but not identical to training data. Other directedand undirected model classification approaches include, e.g., naïveBayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logicmodels, and/or probabilistic classification models providing differentpatterns of independence, any of which can be employed. Classificationas used herein also is inclusive of statistical regression that isutilized to develop models of priority.

Still with reference to FIG. 11, the leg determination component 1114can determine a leg(s) on a route and/or determine appropriate legtermination(s) to display, for example, on a visualization component1108. An appropriate leg to display can comprise an upcoming leg, or anupcoming set of legs, along a route.

According to an example, an aircraft may have completed legs 1 and 2 outof a total of 5 legs. The leg determination component can determine todisplay leg terminations 3 and 4 on a visualization component 1108. Legterminations 3 and 4 can satisfy a criterion or criteria as determinedby criterion satisfaction component 1116. In this regard, legterminations 3 and 4 can be within a defined distance of an aircraftcomprising an FMS 1102 (e.g., 500 nautical miles) and represent futurelegs, and therefore satisfy these criteria. Leg termination 5 can be 550miles away, meaning that it would not satisfy the distance criterionuntil the aircraft comprising the FMS 1102 is at least 50 nautical milescloser to leg termination 5. This can be helpful for decluttering adisplay (e.g., a display 200). Other embodiments can display only aGOTO, or next leg termination, and omit other past or future legterminations. It can be additionally appreciated that machine learningcan be leveraged (e.g., using machine learning component 1112) todisplay an optimal quantity of leg terminations to reduce displayclutter and improve situational awareness.

Visual generation component 1118 can generate images, renderings,photos, videos, overlays, or other suitable visuals. Such visuals can beoutput to a visualization component 1108. Legs, leg terminations, fixes,references, waypoints, other aircraft, or other suitable navigationalaids or points/objects of interest can be rendered for output on avisualization component 1108, by the visual generation component 1118.

The visualization component 1118 can comprise a heads-up display (e.g.,heads-up display 126). In this regard, a heads-up display can show legterminations (e.g., see FIGS. 2-7) in a position that a pilot or crewdoes not need to look down to observe the contents of the display (e.g.,in front of a window such as window 104).

The visualization component 1118 can comprise a 2D or 3D animation(e.g., AR, VR) of leg terminations (e.g., see FIGS. 2-7). In thisregard, the visualization component 1118 can comprise an eyeweardevice/apparatus, such as glasses, goggles, or a headset. Such eyewearcan facilitate the display of a leg termination in virtual or augmentedreality, though virtual or augmented reality visualizations can occur inother embodiments without eyewear devices/apparatuses, such as projectedby a heads-up display or otherwise projected.

The visualization component 1118 can comprise a conventional ND screen.In this regard, visualizations (e.g., see FIGS. 2-7) can be displayed onthe ND screen. The visualization component 1118 can comprise a CDU. Inthis regard, visualizations (e.g., see FIGS. 2-7) can be displayed onthe CDU.

According to additional embodiments, the visualization component cancomprise windows, display portions of windows, or other suitablesurfaces (e.g., see FIG. 1).

According to yet another embodiment, the visualization component 1108can comprise a passenger display device. In this embodiment, a passengerof an aircraft equipped with an FMS 1102 can view the aircraft and itspositional relationship to a leg termination. This way, a passenger canhave insight into an aircraft's actions (e.g., missed a turn andcircling back to attempt again). A passenger display device can comprisea screen affixed to seat (e.g., back of a headrest), cabin ceiling, orother suitable location. Other embodiments can leverage a passenger'spersonal device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, other wearable,smart glasses, or other suitable personal device) for display of displaycontent (e.g., see FIGS. 2-7). According to an example, an FMS can pairto an app (e.g., a smartphone app) directly or indirectly (e.g., via anairline server) to display location information (e.g., aircraft withrespect to a leg or leg termination) for a flight that a passenger istaking or otherwise interested in tracking. According to an example, thecommunication component 1122 can connect to a passenger device to sendsuch information.

An FMS 1102 can comprise an autopilot component 1120. The autopilotcomponent 1120 can, for instance, execute valid solutions discussedabove, and avoid invalid solutions. The autopilot component 1120 canadditionally leverage machine learning to determine optimal solutionsfor leg terminations along the route and travel according to suchoptimal solutions.

Communication component 1122 can comprise various hardware or softwarecomponents suitable for communication with other components of anaircraft, between multiple aircrafts, or between and aircraft and anexternal location, such as an air traffic controller. According to anexample, this can occur over wired connections, or wirelessly via radio,cellular connections (e.g., 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G, or other suitable cellularconnections), or other suitable communication mediums.

Option selection component 1124 can comprise software or physicalmediums suitable for enabling or disabling FMS 1102 options, such as aleg termination visualization function. For instance, FMS 1102 cangenerate leg termination visualizations by default, however, a pilot orcrew member can disable leg termination visualization generationcomponent 1118 such that it does not generate visualizations of legterminations for a visualization component 1108. Enabling or disablingcan be achieved through input via FMS 1102 software or through aphysical button on a control panel of the FMS 1102.

FIG. 12 illustrates a flow diagram of a process 1200 for flight legtermination visualization in accordance with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein. At 1202, a route of an aircraft associated with aflight management system can be retrieved by a flight management systemfrom a navigation database. At 1204, leg terminations on a route can bedetermined by the flight management system. At 1206, a leg terminationof the leg terminations can be determined to be displayed by the flightmanagement system. At 1208, the leg termination can be displayed by theflight management system.

FIG. 13 illustrates a flow diagram of a process 1300 for flight legvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein. At 1302, a flight plan for an aircraft is received from a flightnavigation database. At 1304, a leg combination along the flight plan isdetermined. At 1306, a visual associated with the leg combination isgenerated. At 1308, the visual is displayed on a display communicativelycoupled to a flight management computer.

FIG. 14 illustrates a flow diagram of a process 1400 for flight legvisualization in accordance with one or more embodiments describedherein. At 1402, it is determined whether a FIX INFO function of aflight management system of an aircraft is enabled. At 1404, a flightplan for the aircraft is requested from a flight navigation database. At1406, a flight plan is received from the flight navigation database. At1408, a group of ARINC 424 type leg combinations occurring along theflight plan are determined. At 1410, an ARINC 424 type leg combinationof the ARINC 424 type leg combinations that satisfied a condition isdetermined. At 1412, the ARINC 424 type leg combination is provided on adisplay device of the aircraft.

FIGS. 8-10 and 12-14 as described above illustrate respective methods orsystems in accordance with certain aspects of this disclosure. While,for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methods or systems areshown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood andappreciated that this disclosure is not limited by the order of acts, assome acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with otheracts from those shown and described herein. For example, those skilledin the art will understand and appreciate that methods can alternativelybe represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as ina state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required toimplement methods in accordance with certain aspects of this disclosure.

Various embodiments of the subject innovation can be employed to usehardware and/or software to solve problems that are highly technical innature (e.g., to visualize leg terminations with reference to anaircraft in real-time), that are not abstract and that cannot beperformed as a set of mental acts by a human. Further, some of theprocesses performed can be performed by a specialized computer forcarrying out defined tasks related leg combination terminationvisualization (e.g., determining whether a FIX INFO function of a flightmanagement system of an aircraft is enabled, requesting a flight planfor an aircraft from a flight navigation database, receiving a flightplan from a navigation database, determining a group of leg combinationsoccurring along a flight plan, determining a leg combination of the legcombinations that satisfies a condition, providing the leg combinationon a display device of an aircraft, and so on). In various aspects, thesubject claimed innovation can provide technical improvements to thefield of aviation navigation, particularly pilot and crew situationalawareness, by providing desirable navigational information to a pilot orcrew without distraction. Such navigational information can comprise legterminations provided on one or more of a plurality of displays ofvarying types and mediums, and thus constitutes a concrete and tangibletechnical improvement in the prior art.

In order to provide additional context for various embodiments describedherein, FIG. 15 and the following discussion are intended to provide abrief, general description of a suitable computing environment 1500 inwhich the various embodiments of the embodiment described herein can beimplemented. While the embodiments have been described above in thegeneral context of computer-executable instructions that can run on oneor more computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that theembodiments can be also implemented in combination with other programmodules and/or as a combination of hardware and software.

Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the inventive methods can be practiced with other computer systemconfigurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computersystems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, Internet of Things (IoT)devices, distributed computing systems, as well as personal computers,hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmableconsumer electronics, and the like, each of which can be operativelycoupled to one or more associated devices.

The illustrated embodiments of the embodiments herein can be alsopracticed in distributed computing environments where certain tasks areperformed by remote processing devices that are linked through acommunications network. In a distributed computing environment, programmodules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Computing devices typically include a variety of media, which caninclude computer-readable storage media, machine-readable storage media,and/or communications media, which two terms are used herein differentlyfrom one another as follows. Computer-readable storage media ormachine-readable storage media can be any available storage media thatcan be accessed by the computer and includes both volatile andnonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example,and not limitation, computer-readable storage media or machine-readablestorage media can be implemented in connection with any method ortechnology for storage of information such as computer-readable ormachine-readable instructions, program modules, structured data orunstructured data.

Computer-readable storage media can include, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electricallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray disc (BD) or other optical disk storage,magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or othermagnetic storage devices, solid state drives or other solid statestorage devices, or other tangible and/or non-transitory media which canbe used to store desired information. In this regard, the terms“tangible” or “non-transitory” herein as applied to storage, memory orcomputer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude onlypropagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not relinquishrights to all standard storage, memory or computer-readable media thatare not only propagating transitory signals per se.

Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one or more local orremote computing devices, e.g., via access requests, queries or otherdata retrieval protocols, for a variety of operations with respect tothe information stored by the medium.

Communications media typically embody computer-readable instructions,data structures, program modules or other structured or unstructureddata in a data signal such as a modulated data signal, e.g., a carrierwave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information deliveryor transport media. The term “modulated data signal” or signals refersto a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changedin such a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By wayof example, and not limitation, communication media include wired media,such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless mediasuch as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

With reference again to FIG. 15, the example environment 1500 forimplementing various embodiments of the aspects described hereinincludes a computer 1502, the computer 1502 including a processing unit1504, a system memory 1506 and a system bus 1508. The system bus 1508couples system components including, but not limited to, the systemmemory 1506 to the processing unit 1504. The processing unit 1504 can beany of various commercially available processors. Dual microprocessorsand other multi-processor architectures can also be employed as theprocessing unit 1504.

The system bus 1508 can be any of several types of bus structure thatcan further interconnect to a memory bus (with or without a memorycontroller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety ofcommercially available bus architectures. The system memory 1506includes ROM 1510 and RAM 1512. A basic input/output system (BIOS) canbe stored in a non-volatile memory such as ROM, erasable programmableread only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, which BIOS contains the basic routinesthat help to transfer information between elements within the computer1502, such as during startup. The RAM 1512 can also include a high-speedRAM such as static RAM for caching data.

The computer 1502 further includes an internal hard disk drive (HDD)1514 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), one or more external storage devices 1516(e.g., a magnetic floppy disk drive (FDD) 1516, a memory stick or flashdrive reader, a memory card reader, etc.) and a drive 1520, e.g., suchas a solid state drive, an optical disk drive, which can read or writefrom a disk 1522, such as a CD-ROM disc, a DVD, a BD, etc.Alternatively, where a solid state drive is involved, disk 1522 wouldnot be included, unless separate. While the internal HDD 1514 isillustrated as located within the computer 1502, the internal HDD 1514can also be configured for external use in a suitable chassis (notshown). Additionally, while not shown in environment 1500, a solid statedrive (SSD) could be used in addition to, or in place of, an HDD 1514.The HDD 1514, external storage device(s) 1516 and drive 1520 can beconnected to the system bus 1508 by an HDD interface 1524, an externalstorage interface 1526 and a drive interface 1528, respectively. Theinterface 1524 for external drive implementations can include at leastone or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 interface technologies. Otherexternal drive connection technologies are within contemplation of theembodiments described herein.

The drives and their associated computer-readable storage media providenonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer-executableinstructions, and so forth. For the computer 1502, the drives andstorage media accommodate the storage of any data in a suitable digitalformat. Although the description of computer-readable storage mediaabove refers to respective types of storage devices, it should beappreciated by those skilled in the art that other types of storagemedia which are readable by a computer, whether presently existing ordeveloped in the future, could also be used in the example operatingenvironment, and further, that any such storage media can containcomputer-executable instructions for performing the methods describedherein.

A number of program modules can be stored in the drives and RAM 1512,including an operating system 1530, one or more application programs1532, other program modules 1534 and program data 1536. All or portionsof the operating system, applications, modules, and/or data can also becached in the RAM 1512. The systems and methods described herein can beimplemented utilizing various commercially available operating systemsor combinations of operating systems.

Computer 1502 can optionally comprise emulation technologies. Forexample, a hypervisor (not shown) or other intermediary can emulate ahardware environment for operating system 1530, and the emulatedhardware can optionally be different from the hardware illustrated inFIG. 15. In such an embodiment, operating system 1530 can comprise onevirtual machine (VM) of multiple VMs hosted at computer 1502.Furthermore, operating system 1530 can provide runtime environments,such as the Java runtime environment or the .NET framework, forapplications 1532. Runtime environments are consistent executionenvironments that allow applications 1532 to run on any operating systemthat includes the runtime environment. Similarly, operating system 1530can support containers, and applications 1532 can be in the form ofcontainers, which are lightweight, standalone, executable packages ofsoftware that include, e.g., code, runtime, system tools, systemlibraries and settings for an application.

Further, computer 1502 can be enabled with a security module, such as atrusted processing module (TPM). For instance, with a TPM, bootcomponents hash next in time boot components, and wait for a match ofresults to secured values, before loading a next boot component. Thisprocess can take place at any layer in the code execution stack ofcomputer 1502, e.g., applied at the application execution level or atthe operating system (OS) kernel level, thereby enabling security at anylevel of code execution.

A user can enter commands and information into the computer 1502 throughone or more wired/wireless input devices, e.g., a keyboard 1538, a touchscreen 1540, and a pointing device, such as a mouse 1542. Other inputdevices (not shown) can include a microphone, an infrared (IR) remotecontrol, a radio frequency (RF) remote control, or other remote control,a joystick, a virtual reality controller and/or virtual reality headset,a game pad, a stylus pen, an image input device, e.g., camera(s), agesture sensor input device, a vision movement sensor input device, anemotion or facial detection device, a biometric input device, e.g.,fingerprint or iris scanner, or the like. These and other input devicesare often connected to the processing unit 1504 through an input deviceinterface 1544 that can be coupled to the system bus 1508, but can beconnected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, an IEEE 1394serial port, a game port, a USB port, an IR interface, a BLUETOOTH®interface, etc.

A monitor 1546 or other type of display device can be also connected tothe system bus 1508 via an interface, such as a video adapter 1548. Inaddition to the monitor 1546, a computer typically includes otherperipheral output devices (not shown), such as speakers, printers, etc.

The computer 1502 can operate in a networked environment using logicalconnections via wired and/or wireless communications to one or moreremote computers, such as a remote computer(s) 1550. The remotecomputer(s) 1550 can be a workstation, a server computer, a router, apersonal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainmentappliance, a peer device or other common network node, and typicallyincludes many or all of the elements described relative to the computer1502, although, for purposes of brevity, only a memory/storage device1552 is illustrated. The logical connections depicted includewired/wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 1554 and/orlarger networks, e.g., a wide area network (WAN) 1556. Such LAN and WANnetworking environments are commonplace in offices and companies, andfacilitate enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, all ofwhich can connect to a global communications network, e.g., theInternet.

When used in a LAN networking environment, the computer 1502 can beconnected to the local network 1554 through a wired and/or wirelesscommunication network interface or adapter 1558. The adapter 1558 canfacilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 1554, which canalso include a wireless access point (AP) disposed thereon forcommunicating with the adapter 1558 in a wireless mode.

When used in a WAN networking environment, the computer 1502 can includea modem 1560 or can be connected to a communications server on the WAN1556 via other means for establishing communications over the WAN 1556,such as by way of the Internet. The modem 1560, which can be internal orexternal and a wired or wireless device, can be connected to the systembus 1508 via the input device interface 1544. In a networkedenvironment, program modules depicted relative to the computer 1502 orportions thereof, can be stored in the remote memory/storage device1552. It will be appreciated that the network connections shown areexample and other means of establishing a communications link betweenthe computers can be used.

When used in either a LAN or WAN networking environment, the computer1502 can access cloud storage systems or other network-based storagesystems in addition to, or in place of, external storage devices 1516 asdescribed above, such as but not limited to a network virtual machineproviding one or more aspects of storage or processing of information.Generally, a connection between the computer 1502 and a cloud storagesystem can be established over a LAN 1554 or WAN 1556 e.g., by theadapter 1558 or modem 1560, respectively. Upon connecting the computer1502 to an associated cloud storage system, the external storageinterface 1526 can, with the aid of the adapter 1558 and/or modem 1560,manage storage provided by the cloud storage system as it would othertypes of external storage. For instance, the external storage interface1526 can be configured to provide access to cloud storage sources as ifthose sources were physically connected to the computer 1502.

The computer 1502 can be operable to communicate with any wirelessdevices or entities operatively disposed in wireless communication,e.g., a printer, scanner, desktop and/or portable computer, portabledata assistant, communications satellite, any piece of equipment orlocation associated with a wirelessly detectable tag (e.g., a kiosk,news stand, store shelf, etc.), and telephone. This can include WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. Thus, thecommunication can be a predefined structure as with a conventionalnetwork or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

The present invention may be a system, a method, an apparatus and/or acomputer program product at any possible technical detail level ofintegration. The computer program product can include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention. The computer readable storage medium can be atangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by aninstruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium canbe, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, amagnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagneticstorage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specificexamples of the computer readable storage medium can also include thefollowing: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random accessmemory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory(SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digitalversatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanicallyencoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groovehaving instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination ofthe foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, isnot to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radiowaves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagneticwaves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g.,light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signalstransmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network can comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device. Computer readable programinstructions for carrying out operations of the present invention can beassembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions,machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode,firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data forintegrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written inany combination of one or more programming languages, including anobject oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or thelike, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programminglanguage or similar programming languages. The computer readable programinstructions can execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on theuser's computer, as a standalone software package, partly on the user'scomputer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer can beconnected to the user's computer through any type of network, includinga local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or theconnection can be made to an external computer (for example, through theInternet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments,electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logiccircuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logicarrays (PLA) can execute the computer readable program instructions byutilizing state information of the computer readable programinstructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order toperform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions. These computer readable programinstructions can be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks. These computer readable program instructions can also be storedin a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, aprogrammable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to functionin a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage mediumhaving instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufactureincluding instructions which implement aspects of the function/actspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. Thecomputer readable program instructions can also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational acts to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams can represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks can occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successioncan, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks cansometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

While the subject matter has been described above in the general contextof computer-executable instructions of a computer program product thatruns on a computer and/or computers, those skilled in the art willrecognize that this disclosure also can or can be implemented incombination with other program modules. Generally, program modulesinclude routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. thatperform particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract datatypes. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that theinventive computer-implemented methods can be practiced with othercomputer system configurations, including single-processor ormultiprocessor computer systems, mini-computing devices, mainframecomputers, as well as computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA,phone), microprocessor-based or programmable consumer or industrialelectronics, and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be practicedin distributed computing environments in which tasks are performed byremote processing devices that are linked through a communicationsnetwork. However, some, if not all aspects of this disclosure can bepracticed on stand-alone computers. In a distributed computingenvironment, program modules can be located in both local and remotememory storage devices.

As used in this application, the terms “component,” “system,”“platform,” “interface,” and the like, can refer to and/or can include acomputer-related entity or an entity related to an operational machinewith one or more specific functionalities. The entities disclosed hereincan be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software,software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, butis not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor,an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or acomputer. By way of illustration, both an application running on aserver and the server can be a component. One or more components canreside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component canbe localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or morecomputers. In another example, respective components can execute fromvarious computer readable media having various data structures storedthereon. The components can communicate via local and/or remoteprocesses such as in accordance with a signal having one or more datapackets (e.g., data from one component interacting with anothercomponent in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a networksuch as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As anotherexample, a component can be an apparatus with specific functionalityprovided by mechanical parts operated by electric or electroniccircuitry, which is operated by a software or firmware applicationexecuted by a processor. In such a case, the processor can be internalor external to the apparatus and can execute at least a part of thesoftware or firmware application. As yet another example, a componentcan be an apparatus that provides specific functionality throughelectronic components without mechanical parts, wherein the electroniccomponents can include a processor or other means to execute software orfirmware that confers at least in part the functionality of theelectronic components. In an aspect, a component can emulate anelectronic component via a virtual machine, e.g., within a cloudcomputing system.

In addition, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” ratherthan an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clearfrom context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the naturalinclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or Xemploys both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any ofthe foregoing instances. Moreover, articles “a” and “an” as used in thesubject specification and annexed drawings should generally be construedto mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from contextto be directed to a singular form. As used herein, the terms “example”and/or “exemplary” are utilized to mean serving as an example, instance,or illustration. For the avoidance of doubt, the subject matterdisclosed herein is not limited by such examples. In addition, anyaspect or design described herein as an “example” and/or “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otheraspects or designs, nor is it meant to preclude equivalent exemplarystructures and techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

As it is employed in the subject specification, the term “processor” canrefer to substantially any computing processing unit or devicecomprising, but not limited to, single-core processors;single-processors with software multithread execution capability;multi-core processors; multi-core processors with software multithreadexecution capability; multi-core processors with hardware multithreadtechnology; parallel platforms; and parallel platforms with distributedshared memory. Additionally, a processor can refer to an integratedcircuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), aprogrammable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic device(CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardwarecomponents, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functionsdescribed herein. Further, processors can exploit nano-scalearchitectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and quantum-dotbased transistors, switches and gates, in order to optimize space usageor enhance performance of user equipment. A processor can also beimplemented as a combination of computing processing units. In thisdisclosure, terms such as “store,” “storage,” “data store,” datastorage,” “database,” and substantially any other information storagecomponent relevant to operation and functionality of a component areutilized to refer to “memory components,” entities embodied in a“memory,” or components comprising a memory. It is to be appreciatedthat memory and/or memory components described herein can be eithervolatile memory or nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile andnonvolatile memory. By way of illustration, and not limitation,nonvolatile memory can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM(PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM(EEPROM), flash memory, or nonvolatile random access memory (RAM) (e.g.,ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM). Volatile memory can include RAM, which canact as external cache memory, for example. By way of illustration andnot limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rateSDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM),direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), andRambus dynamic RAM (RDRAM). Additionally, the disclosed memorycomponents of systems or computer-implemented methods herein areintended to include, without being limited to including, these and anyother suitable types of memory.

What has been described above include mere examples of systems andcomputer-implemented methods. It is, of course, not possible to describeevery conceivable combination of components or computer-implementedmethods for purposes of describing this disclosure, but one of ordinaryskill in the art can recognize that many further combinations andpermutations of this disclosure are possible. Furthermore, to the extentthat the terms “includes,” “has,” “possesses,” and the like are used inthe detailed description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms areintended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as“comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in aclaim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: retrieving, by a flightmanagement system from a navigation database, a route of an aircraftassociated with the flight management system; determining, by the flightmanagement system, leg terminations on the route; determining, by theflight management system, a leg termination of the leg terminations todisplay; and displaying, by the flight management system, the legtermination.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the legtermination comprises displaying a path of the aircraft with respect tothe leg termination.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying theleg termination comprises displaying the leg termination on a heads-updisplay of an aircraft.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying theleg termination comprises generating a two-dimensional or athree-dimensional visualization of the leg termination.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein determining the leg termination comprises determining athreshold distance, and wherein a distance between the leg terminationand the aircraft is less than the threshold distance.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the leg termination is a first leg termination and thedistance is a first distance, and wherein the method further comprises:determining a second leg termination, wherein a second distance betweenthe second leg termination and the aircraft is less than the thresholddistance.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the flight management systemcomprises a FIX INFO function, and wherein the flight management systemenables the FIX INFO function to display the leg termination without aninput from a user of the flight management system.
 8. A system,comprising: a flight management computer, a processor, and a memory thatstores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor,facilitate performance of operations, comprising: receiving, from aflight navigation database, a flight plan for an aircraft; determining aleg combination along the flight plan; generating a visual of atermination associated with the leg combination; and displaying thevisual on a display communicatively coupled to the flight managementcomputer.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the visual comprises an areaassociated with the termination, and wherein a trajectory of theaircraft intersecting with the area corresponds to a valid heading forthe aircraft.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the area is representedby a cylinder.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the area isrepresented by a circle.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein a shape anda size of the area is continuously updated by the flight managementcomputer in response to a change of an extrinsic factor.
 13. Anon-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executableinstructions that, when executed by a processor of a voice-activateddevice, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: determiningwhether a FIX INFO function of a flight management system of an aircraftis enabled; and in response to determining that the FIX INFO function isenabled: requesting a flight plan for the aircraft from a flightnavigation database, in response to requesting the flight plan,receiving the flight plan from the flight navigation database,determining a group of ARINC 424 type leg combinations occurring alongthe flight plan, determining a termination of an ARINC 424 type legcombination of the ARINC 424 type leg combinations that satisfies acondition, and providing the termination on a display device of theaircraft.
 14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13,wherein providing the termination on the display device comprisesdetermining a region associated with the termination, and wherein aheading of the aircraft intersecting with the region corresponds to avalid heading and a heading of the aircraft not intersecting with theregion corresponds to an invalid heading.
 15. The non-transitorymachine-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the region is determinedusing machine learning to dynamically determine a size and a shape ofthe region in real-time.
 16. The non-transitory machine-readable mediumof claim 13, wherein the display device is a cockpit display device, andwherein the operations further comprise: providing the termination on apassenger display device.
 17. The non-transitory machine-readable mediumof claim 13, wherein the display device comprises an eyewear apparatus.18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein thedisplay device comprises an augmented reality display device, andwherein providing the termination comprises superimposing thetermination on an exterior view, in space, relative to the aircraft. 19.The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein thedisplay device includes a depiction of the aircraft and another aircraftwithin a defined range of the aircraft.
 20. The non-transitorymachine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the other aircraft has atrajectory that intersects a leg the group of ARINC 424 type legcombinations, and wherein determining the termination that satisfies acondition comprises determining a termination that avoids a collisionwith the other aircraft.